Blog 1: The Foundations of Mixing (What, Why, and How)
1. Defining the Role of Mixing
Mixing is the final step in the music production cycle, occurring just before mastering. Simply put, mixing is the process of finalizing a track or collection of tracks into a single stereo file that is ready for distribution.
The technical function of mixing is to refine and finalize the recorded music for:
- Tonal Balance (frequency profile)
- Dynamic Consistency (volume consistency)
- Optimization for playback across various platforms and media formats
The ultimate function of the technical equipment and the mixing process is to enhance the music and the song itself.
2. The Frequency Foundation (Tonal Balance)
A core objective in mixing is achieving proper tonal balance.
- Defining Tonal Balance: Tonal balance is the relationship of the entire mix to the frequency spectrum. This means balancing the highs, the lows, and the mid-range of your track.
- Human Hearing: The human hearing range spans approximately 20 Hertz (Hz) to 20,000 Hertz (20 kHz). Frequency is the rate at which sound vibrates, measured in Hertz.
- Loudness Perception: The human ear has different sensitivity levels for different frequency ranges. As a result, the bass (low frequencies) must almost always be louder in volume than the high end for a perceived balance.
3. Mixing Goals and Principles
The mixing process aims to create a mix appropriate for the song and the style of music.
| Area of Focus | Goal of the Mixer |
|---|---|
| Balance | Eliminate issues like muddiness (often a problem in the low mids) and avoid irritating or harsh frequencies. |
| Cohesion | A great mix should sound good when played anywhere. Achieving clarity adjacent to fullness, and small elements next to large ones, contributes to a full perspective. |
| Dynamics | Engineers control the musical dynamics and emotional impact by adjusting the relative volume relationships using the faders. |
| Aesthetics | The high frequencies will appear higher (near the speakers), and the low frequencies will appear lower (near the floor) in the perceived stereo image. |
| Mindset | Do not get lost in the equipment (the knobs and technical details); focus on serving the music. The better the mix handed to a mastering engineer, the less work they have to do, which means they can be more subtle and transparent. |
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